Thailand’s competitiveness michael e porter

1 Copyright 2003 © Professor Michael E. PorterCAON Thailand 2003 05-04-03 CK.ppt

Thailand’s Competitiveness: Creating the Foundations for Higher Productivity

Professor Michael E. PorterInstitute for Strategy and Competitiveness

Harvard Business School

Bangkok, Thailand4 May 2003

This presentation draws on ideas from Professor Porter’s articles and books, in particular, The Competitive Advantage of Nations (The Free Press, 1990), “Building the Microeconomic Foundations of Competitiveness,” in The Global Competitiveness Report 2002, (World Economic Forum, 2002), “Clusters and the New Competitive Agenda for Companies and Governments” in On Competition (Harvard Business School Press, 1998), and joint work with Dr. Christian Ketels and the Sasin Graduate School of Business on Thai competitiveness financed by the NESDB. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means - electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise - without the permission of Michael E. Porter.Further information on Professor Porter’s work and the Institute for Strategy and Competitiveness is available at www.isc.hbs.edu


Thailand’s Economy in 2003

• Thailand has registered economic growth through the 1990s, and attracted substantial foreign investment

• The economy has achieved high employment and comparatively low poverty rates despite the Asian Crisis

BUT

• The Asian Crisis hit Thailand first and harder, indicating the fundamental weaknesses of the historical approach

• Growth after the Crisis was driven by devaluation and domestic stimuli packages

• Despite the recent growth, GDP per capita remained flat over the period since 1995


-20%

-15%

-10%

-5%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

China

Myanmar

Vietnam

Singapore

Taiwan

Malaysia

Philippines

Hong Kong

Indonesia

Thailand

Comparative Economic PerformanceSelected Asian Economies

Annual Growth Rate of Real GDP

Source: EIU (2002)

Countries sorted by1995-2002 GDP Growth:


What is Competitiveness?

• Competitiveness is determined by the productivity with which a nation uses its human, capital, and natural resources. Productivity sets a nation’s or region’s standard of living (wages, returns to capital, returns to natural resource endowments)

– Productivity depends both on the value of products and services (e.g. uniqueness, quality) as well as the efficiency with which they are produced

– It is not what industries a nation competes in that matters for prosperity, but how firms compete in those industries

– Productivity in a nation is a reflection of what both domestic and foreign firms choose to do in that location. The location of ownership is secondary for national prosperity

– The productivity of “local” industries is of fundamental importance to competitiveness, not just that of traded industries

– Devaluation does not make a country more competitive

• Nations compete in offering the most productive environment for business

• The public and private sectors play different but interrelated roles in creating a productive economy


Challenges to Thai Prosperity

• Prosperity has stagnated over the period 1995 – 2002. The harder impact of the Asian Crisis outweighed the relatively lower reliance on the sluggish world IT markets

• Productivity is comparatively low and growing only slowly

• While export market share has stabilized after falling between 1995 and 1998, devaluation has reduced the prosperity gain for Thailand

• Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows are reverting back to low pre-Asian Crisis levels. FDI stock is still below regional averages

• Innovation and technology performance is weak, though showing some signs of improvement

• Prosperity has stagnated over the period 1995 – 2002. The harder impact of the Asian Crisis outweighed the relatively lower reliance on the sluggish world IT markets

• Productivity is comparatively low and growing only slowly

• While export market share has stabilized after falling between 1995 and 1998, devaluation has reduced the prosperity gain for Thailand

• Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows are reverting back to low pre-Asian Crisis levels. FDI stock is still below regional averages

• Innovation and technology performance is weak, though showing some signs of improvement

• Thailand’s fundamental challenge is microeconomic

• Without an improvement in microeconomic fundamentals, current growth will be short-lived

• Thailand must move to a new model of competitiveness


0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

-4.0% -3.0% -2.0% -1.0% 0.0% 1.0% 2.0% 3.0%

Comparative Economic PerformanceSelected Middle- and Lower-Income Economies

Sri Lanka

Source: World Development Indicators 2002

GDP per Capita, 2001, US=100

CAGR of GDP per Capita Relative to the US, 1995-2001

South Africa

Argentina

Ecuador

Bulgaria

Costa Rica

Colombia

Chile

Brazil

Bolivia

El Salvador

Haiti

Honduras

Hungary

India

LithuaniaMalaysia

Mexico

Nicaragua

Nigeria

Peru

Poland

RomaniaThailand

Vietnam

Venezuela

Uruguay

Botswana

China(12%, +4.5%)

Croatia

Dominican Rep.

Estonia(30%, +4.3%)

GuatemalaIndonesia

JamaicaJordan

Latvia(22%, +3.7%)

Morocco

Namibia

Philippines

Russia

Slovak Republic

TunisiaTurkey

Ukraine


$0

$10,000

$20,000

$30,000

$40,000

$50,000

$60,000

-2% 0% 2% 4% 6% 8% 10%

Comparative Labor Productivity PerformanceSelected Asian Economies

Source: EIU (2002)

Labor Productivity (GDP per Employee), 2000

Growth of Labor Productivity, CAGR, 1995-2000

Vietnam

Thailand

Singapore

Hong Kong

China

Malaysia

Taiwan

Philippines

Indonesia

• Thailand’s labor productivity is far behind leading Asian economies and productivity growth is lagging badly

Myanmar


Thai ProductivityCluster Examples

• Tourism– Thailand generates less revenue per tourist than leading competitors, for example

Indonesia– Thailand has not been able to increase the revenue per tourists over time. Even after the

1997 devaluation, revenues in terms of Thai Baht only remained stable, while tourists reduced their spending in terms of US-Dollar

• Automotive– Assembly plants in Thailand produce fewer cars per employee than the international

benchmark countries (11 versus 45 per year).– Low labor cost allow Thai assembly plants to be cost competitive despite a much lower

level of automation – Thai-based producers have low incentives to adopt world-class technology to improve

productivity, but this perpetuates low wages

• Food industry– Thai companies employ workers without specific training and pay close to the minimum

wage, yet complain about high turnover– Thai food processors are trapped in a low-productivity, low-wage, low-skill system.

Employees leave for more productive, better paying industries

Source: Sasin Study (2003)


-5%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000

FDI Inflows as percentage of

GDP

Source: World Development Indicators, World Bank, SMC Analysis

Malaysia

ThailandPhilippines

Indonesia

Singapore

China

Comparative Inward Foreign Investment FlowsSelected Asian Economies

• Thailand received strong FDI inflows in the years immediately after the devaluation in 1997 but is now falling back to the FDI inflow levels of its immediate neighbors


Source: US Patent and Trademark Office (www.uspto.gov). Author’s analysis.

Annual U.S. patents per 1 million

population, 2001

Compound annual growth rate of US-registered patents, 1990 - 2001

International Patenting Output

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

0% 10% 20% 30% 40%

Australia

Canada

Germany

Japan

South Korea

New Zealand

Singapore

Sweden

Taiwan

UK

Israel

= 10,000 patents granted in 2001

USA

Finland

Netherlands

Thailand

• Thailand’s level of innovation as measured by U.S. patenting is insignificant


Thailand’s Competitiveness

• Assessing Thailand’s Competitive Position

• Thailand’s Competitiveness Agenda in 2003


Innovation and Competitiveness

ProductivityProductivity

Innovative CapacityInnovative CapacityInnovative CapacityInnovative Capacity

Competitiveness

• Innovation is more than just scientific discovery

• There are no low-tech industries, only low-tech firms

ProsperityProsperityProsperityProsperity


Microeconomic Foundations of DevelopmentMicroeconomic Foundations of Development

Quality of the Quality of the MicroeconomicMicroeconomic

BusinessBusinessEnvironmentEnvironment

Quality of the Quality of the MicroeconomicMicroeconomic

BusinessBusinessEnvironmentEnvironment

SophisticationSophisticationof Companyof Company

Operations andOperations andStrategyStrategy

SophisticationSophisticationof Companyof Company

Operations andOperations andStrategyStrategy

Determinants of Productivity and Productivity Growth

Macroeconomic, Political, Legal, and Social Macroeconomic, Political, Legal, and Social Context for DevelopmentContext for Development

Macroeconomic, Political, Legal, and Social Macroeconomic, Political, Legal, and Social Context for DevelopmentContext for Development

• A sound macroeconomic, political, legal, and social context creates the potential for competitiveness, but is not sufficient

• Competitiveness ultimately depends on improving the microeconomic capability of the economy and the sophistication of local companies and local competition


Micro reform is impeded

by macro economic volatility

that reduces

company investment

Macro reform alone leads to short term capital inflows and growth spurts that ultimately are not sustainable

Integration of Macro- and Microeconomic Reforms

Macroeconomic Macroeconomic reformreform

Microeconomic Microeconomic reformreform

Create the opportunityfor productivity

Required to achieveproductivity

Productivity growth allows economic growth and rising incomes without inflation, making macroeconomic

stability easier to achieve

Stability and confidence support investment and upgrading


Context for Context for Firm Firm

Strategy Strategy and Rivalryand Rivalry

Context for Context for Firm Firm

Strategy Strategy and Rivalryand Rivalry

Related and Supporting Industries


FactorFactor(Input) (Input)

ConditionsConditions

FactorFactor(Input) (Input)


Demand Demand ConditionsConditionsDemand Demand


Productivity and the Microeconomic Business Environment

• Successful economic development is a process of successive economic upgrading, in which the business environment in a nation evolves to support and encourage increasingly sophisticated ways of competing

Sophisticated and demanding local customer(s)

Local customer needs that anticipate those elsewhere

Unusual local demand in specialized segments that can be served nationally and globally

Presence of high quality, specialized inputsavailable to firms

–Human resources–Capital resources–Physical infrastructure–Administrative infrastructure–Information infrastructure–Scientific and technological

infrastructure–Natural resources

Access to capable, locally based suppliers and firms in related fields

Presence of clusters instead of isolated industries

A local context and rules that encourage investment and sustained upgrading

–e.g., Intellectual property protection

Meritocratic incentive systems across all major institutions

Open and vigorous competition among locally based rivals


The California Wine Cluster

Educational, Research, & Trade Organizations (e.g. Wine Institute,

UC Davis, Culinary Institutes)

Educational, Research, & Trade Organizations (e.g. Wine Institute,

UC Davis, Culinary Institutes)

Growers/VineyardsGrowers/Vineyards

Sources: California Wine Institute, Internet search, California State Legislature. Based on research by MBA 1997 students R. Alexander, R. Arney, N. Black, E. Frost, and A. Shivananda.

Wineries/ProcessingFacilities

Wineries/ProcessingFacilities

GrapestockGrapestock

Fertilizer, Pesticides, Herbicides

Fertilizer, Pesticides, Herbicides

Grape Harvesting Equipment

Grape Harvesting Equipment

Irrigation TechnologyIrrigation Technology

Winemaking EquipmentWinemaking Equipment

BarrelsBarrels

LabelsLabels

BottlesBottles

Caps and CorksCaps and Corks

Public Relations and Advertising

Public Relations and Advertising

Specialized Publications (e.g., Wine Spectator,

Trade Journal)

Specialized Publications (e.g., Wine Spectator,

Trade Journal)

Food ClusterFood ClusterFood ClusterFood Cluster

Tourism ClusterTourism ClusterTourism ClusterTourism ClusterCalifornia California Agricultural ClusterAgricultural Cluster

California California Agricultural ClusterAgricultural Cluster

State Government Agencies(e.g., Select Committee on Wine

Production and Economy)


Levels of Clusters

• There is often an array of clusters in a given field in different locations, each with different levels of specialization and sophistication

• Global innovation centers, such as Silicon Valley in semiconductors, are few in number. If there are multiple innovation centers, they normally specialize in different market segments

• Other clusters focus on manufacturing, outsourced service functions, or play the role of regional assembly or service centers

• Firms based in the most advanced clusters often seed or enhance clusters in other locations in order to reduce the risk of a single site, access lower cost inputs, or better serve particular regional markets

• The challenge for an economy is to move from isolated firms to an array of clusters, and then to upgrade the breadth and sophistication of clusters to more advanced activities


Levels of ClustersLeading Footwear Clusters

Vietnam/Indonesia• OEM Production • Focus on the low cost

segment mainly for the European market

China• OEM Production• Focus on low cost

segment mainly for the US market

Portugal• Production • Focus on short-

production runs in the medium price range

Romania• Production subsidiaries

of Italian companies• Focus on lower to

medium price range

United States• Design and marketing • Focus on specific market

segments like sport and recreational shoes and boots

• Manufacturing only in selected lines such as hand-sewn casual shoes and boots

Source: Research by HBS student teams in 2002

Italy• Design, marketing,

and production of premium shoes

• Export widely to the world market


General General General General

• Chambers of Commerce

• Professional associations

• School networks

• University partner groups

• Religious networks

• Joint private/public advisory councils

• Competitiveness councils

• Chambers of Commerce

• Professional associations

• School networks

• University partner groups

• Religious networks

• Joint private/public advisory councils

• Competitiveness councils

Cluster-specificCluster-specificCluster-specificCluster-specific

• Industry associations

• Specialized professional associations and societies

• Alumni groups of core cluster companies

• Incubators

• Industry associations

• Specialized professional associations and societies

• Alumni groups of core cluster companies

• Incubators

Institutions for Collaboration

• Institutions for collaboration (IFC) are formal and informal organizations that

- facilitate the exchange of information and technology

- conduct joint activities

- foster coordination among firms

• IFCs can improve the business environment by

- creating relationships and level of trust that make them more effective

- defining of common standards

- conducting or facilitating the organization of collective action in areas such as procurement, information gathering, or international marketing

- defining and communicating common beliefs and attitudes

- providing mechanisms to develop a common economic or cluster agenda


Influences on CompetitivenessMultiple Geographic Levels

Broad Economic AreasBroad Economic Areas

Groups of Neighboring Groups of Neighboring NationsNations

States, ProvincesStates, Provinces

Cities, Metropolitan Cities, Metropolitan AreasAreas

NationsNations

World EconomyWorld Economy


Specialization of Regional EconomiesSelect U.S. Geographic Areas

BostonAnalytical InstrumentsEducation and Knowledge CreationCommunications Equipment

BostonAnalytical InstrumentsEducation and Knowledge CreationCommunications Equipment

Los Angeles AreaApparelBuilding Fixtures,

Equipment and Services

Entertainment

Los Angeles AreaApparelBuilding Fixtures,

Equipment and Services

Entertainment

ChicagoCommunications EquipmentProcessed FoodHeavy Machinery

ChicagoCommunications EquipmentProcessed FoodHeavy Machinery

Denver, COLeather and Sporting GoodsOil and GasAerospace Vehicles and Defense

Denver, COLeather and Sporting GoodsOil and GasAerospace Vehicles and Defense

San DiegoLeather and Sporting GoodsPower GenerationEducation and Knowledge Creation

San DiegoLeather and Sporting GoodsPower GenerationEducation and Knowledge Creation

San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose Bay AreaCommunications EquipmentAgricultural ProductsInformation Technology

San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose Bay AreaCommunications EquipmentAgricultural ProductsInformation Technology

Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, WAAerospace Vehicles and DefenseFishing and Fishing ProductsAnalytical Instruments

Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, WAAerospace Vehicles and DefenseFishing and Fishing ProductsAnalytical Instruments

HoustonHeavy Construction ServicesOil and GasAerospace Vehicles and Defense

HoustonHeavy Construction ServicesOil and GasAerospace Vehicles and Defense

Pittsburgh, PAConstruction MaterialsMetal ManufacturingEducation and Knowledge

Creation

Pittsburgh, PAConstruction MaterialsMetal ManufacturingEducation and Knowledge

Creation

Atlanta, GAConstruction MaterialsTransportation and LogisticsBusiness Services

Atlanta, GAConstruction MaterialsTransportation and LogisticsBusiness Services

Raleigh-Durham, NCCommunications EquipmentInformation TechnologyEducation andKnowledge Creation

Raleigh-Durham, NCCommunications EquipmentInformation TechnologyEducation andKnowledge Creation

Wichita, KSAerospace Vehicles and

DefenseHeavy MachineryOil and Gas

Wichita, KSAerospace Vehicles and

DefenseHeavy MachineryOil and Gas

Note: Clusters listed are the three highest ranking clusters in terms of share of national employmentSource: Cluster Mapping Project, Institute for Strategy and Competitiveness, Harvard Business School


Stages of Competitive Development

Factor-Driven Factor-Driven EconomyEconomy

Factor-Driven Factor-Driven EconomyEconomy

Investment-Investment-Driven EconomyDriven Economy


Innovation- Innovation- Driven EconomyDriven Economy

Innovation- Innovation- Driven EconomyDriven Economy

Source: Porter, Michael E., The Competitive Advantage of Nations, The Free Press, 1990

InputCost

Efficiency Through Heavy Investment

Unique Value


Thailand’s Competitiveness Agenda

• Upgrade the Business Environment

• Activate Cluster Development

• Transform Company Strategies

• Redefine the Roles of Business and Government

• Decentralize More of Economic Policy to the Regional Level

• Lead a Cross-National Strategy


Context for Firm

Strategy and Rivalry

Context for Firm




Factor(Input)

Conditions

Factor(Input)

Conditions

Demand ConditionsDemand

Conditions

National Business Environment OverviewThailand’s Relative Strengths and Weaknesses

– Most Thai clusters are focused on a few labor-intensive stages of their industries’ value chain

– Cluster organizations exist, but tend to be focused solely on lobbying

+ Inward foreign investment has raised the level of competition

– Most companies compete on low input costs and invest little in creating capabilities

– Complex, high tariffs and weak anti-trust laws impede competition

– Government bureaucracy and corruption create significant costs

– Local Thai demand tends to be unsophisticated and does not generally lead international trends

+ In pick-up trucks, however, Thailand is one of the most developed markets in the world

+ Thailand has a rich wildlife, beautiful locations, and some natural resources

+ Physical infrastructure, especially roads, is good

– Infrastructure in Bangkok is overtaxed– The general skill level of the Thai

labor force is low, and educational programs do not match company needs

– Communication networks are expensive and weak outside of Bangkok

– Inadequate development of financial markets

– Low level of domestic technological capacity


Educational PerformanceSelected Asian Countries

90

82 8275 73

7067 66 65 63

60 5855 55

0

20

40

60

80

100

Korea

, Rep

. of

Japa

n

Philipp

ines

Singap

ore

China

Sri La

nka

Viet N

am

Mal

aysia

Indo

nesia

Hong

Kong,

Chi

na (S

AR)

Thaila

nd

Lao

People

's Dem

. Rep

.In

dia

Mya

nmar

Source: UN – Human Development Indicators

Gross Enrolment in Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary

Education, 1999


12

3

7

63

35

28

3

4129

3 9 8

2812

19

Source : TDRI Survey 2001

Vocationallevel

Under-graduatelevel

Post graduatelevel

Very dissatisfied

Dissatisfied

Neutral

Satisfied

Very satisfied

Educational System QualityEmployer Satisfaction

• Many Thai employers are unsatisfied with the quality of the education system at the more advanced levels, especially at the vocational level


Quality of the Educational SystemCluster Examples

• Tourism– Graduates from many educational institutions are not trained for

tasks that are essential in tourism-related businesses

– More than 40% of tourism-related courses prepare graduates for management positions. However, management positions account for only 3% of the workforce needs in the Thai tourism cluster

• Automotive– The capabilities of production engineers and technicians graduating

from local educational institutions are often insufficient

– Companies are forced to provide extensive in-house training to integrate new hires

• Information Technology– IT executives report that nearly 50% of all graduates need to be

significantly retrained before being useful



Factor(Input)

Conditions

Factor(Input)

Conditions

University/Industry Research Collaboration29

Competitive Disadvantages Relative to GDP per Capita

Competitive Advantages Relative to GDP per Capita

Country Ranking, Arrows indicate a

change of 5 or more ranks since 1998



Availability of Scientists and Engineers 55

Quality of Scientific Research Institutions 45

Quality of Math and Science Education 41

Intellectual Property Protection 38

Science and TechnologyThailand’s Relative Position

Note: Rank by countries; overall Thailand ranks 35 out of 80 countries (35 on National Business Environment, 53 on GDP pc 2001)Source: Global Competitiveness Report 2002

• Thailand is only slowly moving towards a system with high-quality research institutions and the appropriate incentives for R&D and commercialization


Cooperation in Labor-Employer Relations 9

Extent of Locally Based Competitors 14

Extent of Distortive Government Subsidies 17

Decentralization of Corporate Activity 28

Intensity of Local Competition 29

Tariff Liberalization 31




change of 5 or more ranks since

1998



Costs of Other Firms' Illegal/ 46Unfair Activities

Favoritism in Decisions of Government 46 Officials

Hidden Trade Barrier Liberalization 45

Efficacy of Corporate Boards 37

Effectiveness of Anti-Trust Policy 35

Context for Firm Strategy

and Rivalry

Context for Firm Strategy

and RivalryContext for Firm Strategy and Rivalry

Thailand’s Relative Position



12.0%

12.5%

13.0%

13.5%

14.0%

14.5%

15.0%

15.5%

Thai Firms Foreign Firms

% of executives’ time spent with government official

Source: Thailand : Business Environment and Governance Survey, Corrupt ion in Thailand Report,OfficeofCivilSer vi ce Commi ssi on, 2 0 0 1

Bureaucracy in Thailand

Evidence

• Thailand ranks 79 out of 80 countries on the extent of bureaucratic red tap in the 2002 Global Competitiveness Report

• Bureaucracy inflicts the largest burden on smaller domestic companies

• Many examples show that corruption and bureaucracy thrive in an environment with elaborate, complex regulations and administrative procedures

Small

Large

Medium

All Thai companies


Tariff Barriers


Sectors Tariff Rates (March, 2003)

General WTO AFTA

Food products 60 % 30 – 40 % 5 %

Textile and Apparel 100 % 30 – 44 % 5 %

Foot ware 100 % 30 % 5 %

Diamonds 0 – 20 % 1 – 10 % 0 %

Automotive 100 -200% 80 % 5 %

• Historically, Thailand followed an import-substitution strategy based on high tariffs and domestic content requirements

• In the 1990s, the policy changed to support the creation of manufacturing export industries. Export industries could import machinery and inputs tariff-free

• Currently, Thailand is in the process of reducing regional tariff rates in accordance with the ASEAN free trade agreement. However, tariff protection remains significant in many industries and is blunting competition


Barriers to International TradeAutomotive Industry

• The Thai automotive industry was born as a result of trade protection

• While the industry consists of a large number of assembly plants and suppliers, its ability to compete internationally rests almost entirely on low labor costs that compensate for low levels of productivity

• The industry began to export only after the devaluation of the Thai Baht in 1997. Thai-based operations have relatively weak positions in international markets

• Thailand’s progress in becoming the ASEAN automotive production hub is still fragile

• The potential for growth will be limited until Thailand significantly improves its sophistication and technology



Change in World Market Share, 1995-2000

Automotive Clusters in the World EconomyTop 25 Exporting Countries by Export Value, 2000

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

-3% -2% -1% 0% 1% 2%

USA

Japan

Germany Canada

France

UK

Mexico

Note: RCA is defined as a country’s market share in the cluster divided by the country world market share across all exports Source: UNCTAD Trade Data. Author’s analysis.

Spain

Italy

KoreaBelgium

Netherlands

China

Austria

Sweden

Brazil

Singapore

Czech R.

Switzerland

PolandHungary

Portugal

Finland

ThailandAustralia

Revealed Comparative Advantage (RCA), 2000

DD = $35 billion export volume in 2000


Domestic Competition in Thailand

• Foreign investors have significantly improved the level of competition in a number of sectors such as retail

• The increased focus of Thai business groups on markets where they have dominating positions has reduced competitive intensity in some industries

• The Competition Committee has few effective instruments to act against companies with market power– The Competition Act does not, for example, apply to state

owned companies

Source: Global Competitiveness Report 2002, McKinsey 2002, Sasin Study 2003


Thai Policy Toward FDI

• Some foreign investors have been encouraged to use older technology to create more (lower paying) jobs

• Historically, the government tried to channel FDI to different parts of the country

– Recently the preferences for investing outside Bangkok have been removed

• Investment incentives are less attractive than, for example, Malaysia and Singapore

• The new strategy seeks to attract regional headquarters without offering any compelling advantages versus other locations.

• Government is searching to promote technology transfer in, for example, electronics but success so far is limited

• No convincing cluster-based approach to FDI attraction is in place

– Special incentives exist in textiles, footwear, and food products



Consumer Adoption of Latest Products 21







Laws Relating to Information Technology 48

Stringency of Environmental Regulations 39

Presence of Demanding Regulatory 36 Standards

Demand Conditions

Demand Conditions

Demand ConditionsThailand’s Relative Position



Thai Demand ConditionsPick-up Trucks

• Thailand has heavy demand for pick-up trucks that are used for multiple commercial and private uses

• Manufacturers react to the demand by offering more varieties of pick-up truck models in Thailand than in any other national market

• Thailand has a strong and growing position for pick-up trucks in the world market– This is the only segment (apart from tires and rubber-related

products) in the automotive industry in which Thailand has a revealed comparative advantage

– Thailand is the second largest producer of pick-up trucks worldwide behind the United States

• Seek such opportunities in other parts of Thai industry







Local Availability of Specialized 40Research and Training Services

Local Availability of Process Machinery 37



Extent of Product and Process 17 Collaboration

Local Availability of Components 18and Parts

State of Cluster Development 23

Local Supplier Quantity 29



Related and Supporting IndustriesThailand’s Relative Position


• Thailand is home to an array of clusters, but clusters are shallow and are characterized by weak linkages among cluster participants


Moving Beyond Factor CompetitionPolicy Imperatives

Factor-Factor-Driven EconomyDriven Economy

Factor-Factor-Driven EconomyDriven Economy

• Openness to trade and FDI

• Competition policy

• Protection of physical and intellectual property

• Communications and transportation infrastructure

• Streamline government regulation

• Regional trade

• Increased local rivalry

• Improving factor quality, education

• Advanced financial infrastructure

• Specialization of human capital

• Cluster development (buyers, suppliers)

• Establish infrastructure for innovation




Some Immediate Steps

• Negotiate ASEAN Open Skies agreement

• Reduce distortive taxes for particular product groups

• Reduce capital gains tax for venture investments in smaller companies

• Open the telecommunication market

• Negotiate FTA agreement with the United States










0.0%

0.5%

1.0%

1.5%

2.0%

2.5%

3.0%

-1.0% -0.5% 0.0% 0.5%

Source: UNCTAD Trade Data. Author’s analysis.

Change in Thailand’s World Export Share, 1995 - 2000

Thailand’s Export Performance By Broad Sector1995-2000

Health Care

Food/Beverages

Entertainment

Office(3.7%, +1.3%)

Personal

Textiles/Apparel

Transportation

Multiple Business

Thailand’s average goods export share: 1.24%

Thailand’s average change in world goods export share:

- 0.069%

DD = $1.5 billion export volume in 2000

+

Petroleum/Chemicals

Materials/Metals

+

World Export Share, 2000

Housing/Household Power

Semiconductors/Computers

Telecommunications

Defense

Forest Products


Threats to Traditional Clusters

• Thailand is losing world market position in some of its traditional areas of strength, such as textiles/apparel and food products

• In these clusters, Thailand firms focus on a few, labor-intensive steps in the value chain. They use either imported (e.g., gold, tuna) or locally-produced raw materials, and sell undifferentiated products on anonymous world markets

• Technology is low and not being upgraded

• While these clusters provide many jobs, wages are close to the Thai minimum wage

• Thailand is losing market share both to lower cost locations such as China and to more focused, higher cost locations such as Austria (Leather) or Australia (Food/Beverages)

Source: Sasin Study, UNCTAD Trade Data. Author’s analysis.


Cluster Development Efforts in Thailand

• Tourism– Thailand is home to many of the components of a well-

functioning tourism cluster– There is no overarching strategy for the cluster, despite the

existence of many industry associations for different parts of the cluster, and of many different strategic plans

– The absence of a clear strategy is a key factor in the inability of the cluster to capture more value from tourists

• Food– Government policy and private sector efforts are poorly

coordinated in many segments of the cluster• Import tariffs for inputs and uncoordinated government positions in

international trade negotiations hurt food industries

• Lack of coordination between government institutions and industry associations create ineffective cluster strategies

Source: Sasin Study, Author’s analysis.


$1,201.12

80 82 84 86 88 90 92 94 96 98 00

Economic Performance of the Thai Tourism ClusterRevenue per Tourist over Time

Source: TAT, World Tourism Organization

In Thai Baht

In US-Dollar

Receipts per Tourist in Thailand

$749


$0

$5,000

$10,000

$15,000

$20,000

$25,000

$30,000

$35,000

$40,000

0% 1% 2% 3% 4% 5% 6% 7%

Agricultural ProductivitySelected Countries

Source: World Development Indicators, World Bank

Change in Agricultural Productivity, CAGR, 1995-1999

Korea

ThailandChina

Japan

Malaysia

Agricultural Productivity, 1999

South Africa

New Zealand

Australia


Thai Agriculture

• Thai agricultural production is low and stagnant

• Thai agriculture acts as an overflow valve for the industrial labor market– Agricultural productivity increased somewhat in the 1990s when

subsistence farmers left agriculture to work in manufacturing– In the downturn after the Asian crisis, the outflow from agriculture

slowed and productivity growth fell back

• Thai agriculture is divided in two groups: a few large food companies serving foreign markets, and many small farmers serving domestic markets

• The Thai Ministry for Agriculture has a history of corruption and inefficiency. It is currently being restructured

• There are local colleges that provide training for agriculture, but there activities are controlled centrally and are not well coordinated with local needs


Thailand’s Cluster Vision: World Leader in Niche MarketsSelected Niches

Food: Kitchen of the

World

Food: Kitchen of the

World

Fashion: Asia Tropical

Fashion

Fashion: Asia Tropical

Fashion

Tourism: Tourism Capital

Asia

Tourism: Tourism Capital

Asia

Automotive: Detroit of AsiaAutomotive: Detroit of Asia

Software: World Graphic Design Center

Software: World Graphic Design Center

• Important sector with declining world market position• Insufficient value chain presences and lack of brands key issues

• Three (Textiles/Apparel, Jewelry, Leather) important sectors with declining world market share and few linkages

• Insufficient value chain presence and inconsistent policy key issues

• Important sector with potential for significantly higher value creation• Lack of shared vision is critical constraint

• Growing sector with small world market share moving gradually out of protection

• Low level of productivity and innovation key issues

• Very small sector of few companies• Uncompetitive business environment and lack of linkage to existing IT

activities are critical issues

• Concentrating on areas of existing strengths provides the right basis for success

• Focus of government policy should be on increasing Thailand’s attractiveness for the cluster, not on the strategic choices of companies in the cluster


• Improving the general business environment is essential, but cluster development is needed to attain middle-income levels

• Developing economies should upgrade traditional clusters including agriculture, never abandon them

• Recruitment of foreign direct investment should focus on existing and emerging clusters, not generalized appeals

– Incentives should be weighted toward training, infrastructure, and other areas that upgrade the cluster versus general subsidies and tax holidays

• Existing MNCs can become nodes for cluster development– The best way to retain companies is to make them part of a cluster to support higher

local productivity

• Free trade zones should be organized around clusters, and regulations designed to encourage linkages with the local economy

• A formal structure for cluster development is an important component of economic development

– Private sector led– Government convening and participation– Seed funding for cluster assessment and the formation of cluster-based industry groups

Cluster Development in Emerging EconomiesSome Principles



• Create private sector-led cluster competitiveness councils for clusters throughout the economy– Clusters willing to take responsibility for cluster development

qualify for matching funds – Potential new cluster groups include furniture and health

services

• Launch cluster-based efforts to improve secondary and vocational education programs

• Develop and publicize productivity metrics for a wide array of Thai clusters










Typical Strategic Errors in Emerging Economies

Corporate Direction

• Opportunistic pursuit of new businesses, seizing profitable opportunities in whatever area they arise

• Strategy driven by government relationships and concessions

• Business groups become conglomerates with operations in highly disparate areas

Corporate Direction

• Opportunistic pursuit of new businesses, seizing profitable opportunities in whatever area they arise

• Strategy driven by government relationships and concessions

• Business groups become conglomerates with operations in highly disparate areas

Activities

• Labor intensive parts of the value chain are emphasized

• Low investment in machinery, equipment, brands, R&D, and training

• Foreign partners provide many inputs, know how, and financing

Activities

• Labor intensive parts of the value chain are emphasized

• Low investment in machinery, equipment, brands, R&D, and training

• Foreign partners provide many inputs, know how, and financing

Strategic Positioning

• Wide product lines serving all local industry segments

• Price is the primary basis of competition

• Low input costs are primary competitive advantage

• Offerings of foreign and other domestic competitors are imitated

Strategic Positioning

• Wide product lines serving all local industry segments

• Price is the primary basis of competition

• Low input costs are primary competitive advantage

• Offerings of foreign and other domestic competitors are imitated


Company Operations and StrategyThailand’s Relative Position 2002

Prevalence of Foreign Technology 3 Licensing

Extent of Regional Sales 21

Breadth of International Markets 22

Degree of Customer Orientation 24

Willingness to Delegate Authority 29

Note: Rank by countries; overall Thailand ranks 35 out of 80 countries (33 on Company Operations and Strategy, 53 on GDP pc 2001)Source: Global Competitiveness Report 2002

Reliance on Professional 53Management

Capacity for Innovation 49

Control of International Distribution 46

Production Process Sophistication 45

Company Spending on R&D 45

Nature of Competitive Advantage 45

Extent of Branding 41

Extent of Incentive Compensation 39

Extent of Staff Training 36








Company Operations and Strategy OverviewThailand’s Relative Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths

• Increasing level of customer orientation

• Increasing focus on regional versus advanced distant foreign markets

• Signs of improving management quality

Weaknesses

• Competing on global commodity markets based on low costs of factor inputs

• Narrow presence in the value chain with weaknesses in marketing, brand development, and the control of international distribution channels

• Low investment in human resources and innovation


The Role of Business Groups

• Leading Thai business groups are Charoen Pokphand (CP) Group and Siam Cement

– These groups are professionally managed and have significant foreign sales

• Before the Asian Crisis, Thai business groups diversified into an increasing number of industries, often driven by joint ventures with foreign investors

– With many growth opportunities domestically, Thai companies did not increase their understanding of foreign export markets

• After the Asian Crisis, Thai business groups have been faced with excessive debt and have reduced the number of businesses significantly

– In a given industry, they tend to still focus on the labor-intensive processing and production parts of the value chain

• Many of the large groups have strong connections with government and have enjoyed protected market positions in Thailand for periods of time

• The development of SMEs has been stunted



0%

15%

0% 5% 10%

Comparative Outward Foreign InvestmentSelected Asian Economies

Thailand

Malaysia

FDI Stocks Abroad as % of GDP, Average 1998-2000

FDI Outflows as % of Gross Fixed Capital Formation, Average 1998-2000

PhilippinesChina

Source: World Investment Report 2002-

• Thai companies do not make significant outward foreign direct investment

Indonesia

South Korea

Singapore(40%, 12%)


Internationalization Strategy of Thai Companies

• Thai companies export predominantly to advanced markets in the United States, Europe, and Japan

– Growing markets are China and the ASEAN countries, which have now again reached their 1995 pre-Asian Crisis share of Thai exports

• Thai companies have very low foreign investments

• Thai companies can use an internationalization strategy focused on neighboring countries as an important step to improve their value chain presence

• Thai companies can profit from serving markets in the region, and they can profit from accessing low cost factor inputs in less developed countries










Shifting Responsibilities for Economic Development

Old ModelOld ModelOld ModelOld Model

• Government drives economic development through policy decisions and incentives

• Government drives economic development through policy decisions and incentives

New ModelNew ModelNew ModelNew Model

• Economic development is a collaborative process involving government at multiple levels, companies, teaching and research institutions, and institutions for collaboration

• Economic development is a collaborative process involving government at multiple levels, companies, teaching and research institutions, and institutions for collaboration




Factor (Input)

Conditions

Factor (Input)

Conditions

Demand ConditionsDemand

Conditions

Context for Firm


Context for Firm


Government Policies and the Business Environment

GovernmentGovernment


• Macroeconomic, political, legal, and social context– Establish a stable and predictable macroeconomic, legal, and political environment – Improve the social conditions of citizens

• General microeconomic business environment– Improve the availability, quality, and efficiency of cross-cutting or general purpose inputs,

infrastructure, and institutions– Set overall rules and incentives governing competition that encourage productivity growth

• Clusters– Facilitate cluster development and upgrading

• Process of Economic Change– Create institutions and processes for upgrading competitiveness that inform citizens and

mobilize the private sector, government at all levels, educational and other institutions, and civil society to take action

Roles of Government in Economic Development


Role of the Private Sector in Economic Development

• A company’s competitive advantage is partly the result of the local environment

• Company membership in a cluster offers collective benefits

• Private investment in “public goods” is justified

• Take an active role in upgrading the local infrastructure

• Nurture local suppliers and attract new supplier investments

• Work closely with local educational and research institutions to upgrade quality and create specialized programs addressing cluster needs

• Provide government with information and substantive input on regulatory issues and constraints bearing on cluster development

• Focus corporate philanthropy on enhancing the local business environment

• An important role for trade associations

– Greater influence

– Cost sharing


Institutions for Collaboration in Thailand

• Thailand has a significant number of institutions for collaboration on the general and on the cluster level

• The effectiveness of many of these institutions for competitiveness upgrading is limited

– Institutions with an economy-wide mandate tend to follow traditional models concentrating on lobbying the government

– Institutions in clusters tend to represent only a small share of the overall cluster

• In the tourism cluster, many private sector associations exist for the different industries in the cluster, but none that stretches across

• In the textiles cluster, trade associations are organized by stage of the production process and represent often contrary interests

– The coordination among institutions within a cluster, and with the relevant government agencies, is limited

• In the Fashion cluster, three separate versions of the Fashion City master plan exist, all written by different combinations of government and private sector institutions

Source: Sasin Study, Author’s analysis.


New Roles of Industry Associations

• Competitive advantage resides solely inside a company or in its industry

• Competitive success depends primarily on company choices

• Competitive advantage (or disadvantage) resides partly in the locations at which a company’s business units are based

• Cluster participation is an important contributor to competitiveness

Traditional Emerging

Traditional RolesTraditional RolesTraditional RolesTraditional Roles New RolesNew RolesNew RolesNew Roles

• Lobby government- Trade and regulations

• Convene meetings for networking

• Lobby government- Trade and regulations

• Convene meetings for networking

• Negotiate with government- Trade and regulations

• Information collection and dissemination- E.g. regular benchmarking

• Joint marketing- E.g. trade fairs, missions

• Training- E.g. curriculum for managers- Close collaboration with outside

educational institutions- Sponsoring of targeted scholarships

• Research- E.g university partnerships- Standard setting and testing- Specialized research institutes

• Procurement- E.g. joint purchasing programs

• Environmental- E.g. demonstration projects- Research sponsorship

• Negotiate with government- Trade and regulations

• Information collection and dissemination- E.g. regular benchmarking

• Joint marketing- E.g. trade fairs, missions

• Training- E.g. curriculum for managers- Close collaboration with outside

educational institutions- Sponsoring of targeted scholarships

• Research- E.g university partnerships- Standard setting and testing- Specialized research institutes

• Procurement- E.g. joint purchasing programs

• Environmental- E.g. demonstration projects- Research sponsorship

Cluster activation and enabling



• Professionalize public service through setting specific objectives, raising pay levels, and tying advancement and pay to performance

• Combine top-down and bottom-up initiatives to reduce corruption

• Make all economic transactions with government transparent via the Internet

• Create clear, measurable objectives for each government agency

• Relaunch efforts to publicize data on government agencies’ performance

• Assign cluster responsibilities to one agency or official with broad powers to align activities across government agencies










Influences on CompetitivenessMultiple Geographic Levels

Broad Economic AreasBroad Economic Areas

Groups of Neighboring Groups of Neighboring NationsNations

States, ProvincesStates, Provinces

Cities, Metropolitan Cities, Metropolitan AreasAreas

NationsNations

World EconomyWorld Economy


0

50,000

100,000

150,000

200,000

250,000

-2% 0% 2% 4% 6% 8% 10%

Change in GDP per Capita, CAGR, 1995 - 2000

Economic Performance Across Thai RegionsGDP per Capita Growth Rate, 1995 - 2000

Central

GDP per Capita, Thai Baht, 2000

DD

BangkokEastern

Northern

Western

Northeastern

Southern

= 100 million Baht regional GDP

Source: NESDB

Thailand: 78,519 Baht

Thailand: 2.2%

69 Copyright 2003 © Professor Michael E. PorterCAON Thailand 2003 05-04-03 CK.pptSource: Vanichseni: Development of Automotive Industry Master Plan (2002)

Concentration of Economic Activity in ThailandAutomotive Cluster

Bangkok• Bangchan General Assembly• Y.M.C. Assembly• Thai Honda Manufacturing• and 232 suppliers

Samutprakarn• Toyota Motor Thailand• Isuzu Motors (Thailand)• Siam Nissan Automobile• Siam V.M.C. Automobile• Thai Auto Work• International Vehicles• Thai Yamaha Motor• Thai Swedish Assembly• Hino Motors (Thailand)• Thonburi Automotive

Assembly

Ayudhaya• Honda Automobile (Thailand)

Pathumthani• Thai Suzuki Motor• and 39 suppliers

Samutsakorn• Thai Rung Union Car

Rayong• Auto Alliance (Thailand)• General Motors

(Thailand)• BMW Manufacturing

(Thailand)• Kawasaki Motors

Enterprise (Thailand)• MMC Sittipol• and 41 suppliers

Chachoengsao• Toyota Motor Thailand• Isuzu Motors (Thailand)

Chonburi• 55 suppliers

Samutprakarn • 158 suppliers


Past Efforts at Regional Policy

• The geographic concentration of political power in the national capital has far reaching implications for the location of economic activity

– Companies locate their headquarters in the capital because chief executives spend considerable time dealing with government officials

• This effect is much stronger in countries with high levels of government regulations, and with high levels of bureaucracy and corruption

– Companies locate their operations in or close to the capital because infrastructure investments tend to favor this region where the relevant decisions are being made

– Assigned regional officials often have neither the power, the incentive, nor the knowledge – because of short assignments – to make effective decisions about regional infrastructure needs

• Thailand’s decision to nation-wide assign “CEO governors” as tested in Phuket and other regions is a step in the right direction

• Bolder steps are necessary to make progress towards a regional pattern of growth that mobilizes the full economic potential of the entire country


Developing Thailand’s Provinces

• Develop other cities as secondary centers outside Bangkok– Infrastructure development– Investment in educational facilities tied to region’s clusters– Relocate government administration

• Create institutional capacity for business environment upgrading– Provincial public-private Competitiveness Councils– Provincial cluster initiatives

• Provide provincial institutions with authority– Block grants instead of tied grants for regions

• Thailand’s decision to nation-wide assign “CEO governors” as tested in Phuket and elsewhere is a step in the right direction

• Bolder steps are necessary to make progress towards a regional pattern of growth that mobilizes the full economic potential of the entire country



• Have regional CEO governors report directly to the Prime Minister

• Create private sector-led regional competitiveness boards with a mandate to develop a regional economic plan

• Collect and publicize comparative competitiveness indicators for each region










Cross-National Strategy and CompetitivenessTraditional Views• Regions as free trade zones; regions as economic unions (e.g. European Union)

New View• A regional strategy as a powerful tool to enhance competitiveness in autonomous countries:

– Company Operations and Strategy• Increasing internal trade and investment • Enhancing the competitive capability of firms• Expanding trade in non-traditional export industries

– Business Environment• Policy coordination enhance the quality of the business environment

– Cluster Development• Cross-border cluster specialization and integration

– Economic Policy Process• Stimulating faster progress in economic policy at the national level

– Attracting Foreign Investment• Enhancing interest and investment in the region by the international community

• Competitiveness is often more readily achieved and sustained in moderately sized, competing economic units


• Coordinate macroecono-mic policies

• Eliminate trade and investment barriers within the region

• Simplify cross-border regulations and paperwork

• Guarantee minimum basic investor protections

• Set minimum environmental standards

• Set minimum safety standards

• Establish reciprocal consumer protection laws

• Agree on foreign investment promotion guidelines to limit forms of investment promotion that do not enhance productivity

• Coordinated competition policy

• Improve regional transportation infrastructure

• Create an efficient energy network

• Upgrade/link regional communications

• Upgrade/linkfinancial markets

• Upgrade higher education through facilitating specialization and student exchanges

• Expand cross-border business and financial information access and sharing

• Coordinate activities to ensure personal safety

• Establish ongoing upgrading process in clusters that cross national borders, e.g.

– Tourism

– Agribusiness

– Textiles and Apparel

– Information Technology

• Share best practices in government operations

• Improve regional institutions

– Regional development bank

– Dispute resolution mechanisms

– Policy coordination body

• Develop a regional marketing strategy

Factor Factor (Input)(Input)


Factor Factor (Input)(Input)

ConditionsConditionsRegional

Governance

RegionalGovernance

Context for Context for Strategy Strategy

and Rivalryand Rivalry

Context for Context for Strategy Strategy

and Rivalryand Rivalry



Demand Demand ConditionsConditions

Demand Demand ConditionsConditions

Cross-National Economic Coordination Illustrative Policy Areas










Defining Thailand’s Role in the World Economy

• Thailand has a vision for niche industries, but no vision for the country as a whole

• What will in 5-10 years be unique about Thailand as a location to do business relative to other countries in the region / the world?

– What advantages does Thailand’s location, history, and current business environment provide?

– How can Thailand move to the next stage of economic development?


Back Up


Symbolic Early Steps

Public sector• Negotiate FTA with the United States• Open the telecommunication market• Negotiate ASEAN Open Skies agreement• Reduce distortive taxes for particular product groups• Launch performance-based pay for government officials; publicize

government agencies performance data• Assign powers to align activities across government agencies

relevant to one cluster with one agency or official

Joint private-public• Create private sector-led provincial and cluster competitiveness

boards• Launch cluster-based efforts to improve secondary and vocational

education programs


Comparative Labor Market PerformanceUnemployment Rate in Selected Countries

0%

1%

2%

3%

4%

5%

6%

7%

Austra

lia

Indo

nesia

Hong

Kong,

China

Japa

n

Singap

ore

Korea

, Rep

.

United

Sta

tes

China

Mala

ysia

Thaila

nd

Unemployment Rate, 2000

Source: World Development Indicators (2002)

Back-UpBack-Up


0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

1988 1992 1996 2000

% Population Below Poverty Line

Social PerformancePoverty Rates in Selected Countries

Source: World Development Indicators (2002)

Malaysia

Thailand

Indonesia

Philippines

Back-UpBack-Up


$0

$10,000

$20,000

$30,000

$40,000

$50,000

$60,000

$70,000

$80,000

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

Exports, Imports, and Exchange RateThailand

Exports in $1,000,000

Imports

Exports

Exchange Rate: US-Dollar per Thai Baht

4.9 cent = 1 Baht

2.2 cent = 1 Baht

Source: EIU (2002)

Back-UpBack-Up


0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

1980

1981

1982

1983

1984

1985

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

Thai Labor Productivity Over TimeGDP per Employee by Broad Sector

Index

Services

Industry

Agriculture

Note: Index = GDP per agriculture in 1980 = 100, at constant 1995 US$Source: World Development Indicators, World Bank, SMC Analysis

CAGR:7.0%

CAGR:5.9%

CAGR:4.9%

CAGR:3.1%

CAGR:2.8%

CAGR:8.2%

CAGR:0.8%

CAGR:-9.5%

CAGR:1.5%

• Labor productivity growth has slowed across the Thai economy with the service sector taking the strongest hit after the Asian Crisis

Back-UpBack-Up


$0

$10,000

$20,000

$30,000

$40,000

$50,000

$60,000

$70,000

30% 35% 40% 45% 50% 55% 60%

Labor Productivity (GDP (PPP) per Employee),

2000

Employees as % of Population

Prosperity and Productivity PerformanceSelected Asian Economies

Vietnam

Thailand

Singapore

Hong Kong

China

Malaysia

Taiwan

Philippines IndonesiaMyanmar

GDP per Capita (PPP):

$20,000

$10,000

$5,000

Source: EIU (2002)

• Thailand’s prosperity rests on a high labor force participation rate, enabled by the lowest population and labor force growth rates in the region

Back-UpBack-Up


Thailand's Export PerformanceWorld Export Market Shares

0.60%

0.70%

0.80%

0.90%

1.00%

1.10%

1.20%

1.30%

1.40%

1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

Source: WTO (2002)

• Thailand’s world export market share growth has sidelined after 1998

• Thailand’s service export market share has fallen since the mid-1990s

World export share in %

Services

Goods

TOTAL

Back-UpBack-Up


0.0%

0.5%

1.0%

1.5%

2.0%

2.5%

3.0%

3.5%

4.0%

4.5%

1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

Singapore

China

Korea

Taiwan

MalaysiaThailand

VietnamPhilippines

Indonesia

World Trade in Goods and ServicesAsian Countries’ World Market Shares Over Time

Source: WTO (2002)

• Thailand’s world market share has followed the trend of many other Asian countries except China, but suffered less from the downturn in the world electronics market

Back-UpBack-Up


0%

15%

30%

45%

-10% -5% 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25%

Comparative Inward Foreign InvestmentSelected Asian Economies

Thailand

Malaysia

FDI Stocks as % of GDP, Average 1998-2000

FDI Inflows as % of Gross Fixed Capital Formation, Average 1998-2000

Philippines

Vietnam

China

Source: World Investment Report 2002-

• Thailand has attracted significant foreign direct investment recently, but still has a lower level of foreign investment than other Asian countries

Indonesia

Back-UpBack-Up


Comparative Composition of the Thai EconomySelected Countries

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Th

aila

nd

Ind

on

esi

a*

Ph

ilip

pin

es

Ma

lays

ia

Ko

rea

Jap

an

Au

stra

lia

US

A

Isra

el

Sin

ga

po

re

Service

Industry

Agriculture

Share of Employment, 2000

• If Thailand is to achieve broad improvements in prosperity, the upgrading of Thai agriculture needs to be a key element of the competitiveness agenda

Back-UpBack-Up


Thailand’s Export Structure

0%

2%

4%

6%

8%

10%

12%

14%

16%

0.0% 0.5% 1.0% 1.5% 2.0% 2.5% 3.0% 3.5% 4.0%

Health Care

Food/Beverages

Entertainment

Office

Personal

Textiles/Apparel

Transportation

Multiple Business

Petroleum/Chemicals

Materials/Metals

Housing/Household

Power

Semiconductors/Computers

Telecommunications

DefenseForest Products

Thailand’s World Export Share by Broad Cluster, 2000

Country Export Share by Broad Cluster,

2000

Thailand’s average goods export share:

1.24%

• Except in semiconductors/computers, where Thai exports are concentrated on a few industries, Thai companies in these broad clusters tend to have significant positions in many of the clusters’ industries

49% of exports

Back-UpBack-Up


Value(in $1,000)

Value(in $1,000)SubclusterSubcluster ClusterCluster World Market

Share

World Market Share

Change in Share1995 - 2000


Office Machine PartsSemiconductorsFish, ProcessedFabricated PlasticsShell FishMisc Multi Business GdsComputersRice, Cereals, PreparedNatural RubberTrucks, Road VehiclesPeripheralsPetroleum ProductsTV ReceiversHeating, Cooling Equip.Other OuterwearJewellery, CoinsRotating ElectricTelecommunicationsFootwearSwitches, Relays, etc.SugarFurniturePrecious,Semi-P StonesConverters,InductorsToys,Games,Sporting

Office Machine PartsSemiconductorsFish, ProcessedFabricated PlasticsShell FishMisc Multi Business GdsComputersRice, Cereals, PreparedNatural RubberTrucks, Road VehiclesPeripheralsPetroleum ProductsTV ReceiversHeating, Cooling Equip.Other OuterwearJewellery, CoinsRotating ElectricTelecommunicationsFootwearSwitches, Relays, etc.SugarFurniturePrecious,Semi-P StonesConverters,InductorsToys,Games,Sporting

OfficeSemiconductors/ComputersFood/BeveragesPetroleum/ChemicalsFood/BeveragesMultiple BusinessSemiconductors/ComputersFood/BeveragesMaterials/MetalsTransportationSemiconductors/ComputersPetroleum/ChemicalsEntertainment/LeisureMultiple BusinessTextiles/ApparelPersonalPowerTelecommunicationsTextiles/ApparelPowerFood/BeveragesHousing/HouseholdPersonalPowerEntertainment/Leisure

OfficeSemiconductors/ComputersFood/BeveragesPetroleum/ChemicalsFood/BeveragesMultiple BusinessSemiconductors/ComputersFood/BeveragesMaterials/MetalsTransportationSemiconductors/ComputersPetroleum/ChemicalsEntertainment/LeisureMultiple BusinessTextiles/ApparelPersonalPowerTelecommunicationsTextiles/ApparelPowerFood/BeveragesHousing/HouseholdPersonalPowerEntertainment/Leisure

4.72%2.19%

18.48%2.01%

13.83%0.99%1.79%

16.94%42.26%

2.10%2.87%0.92%4.10%3.41%2.95%4.58%3.15%1.69%2.27%1.13%9.29%1.75%1.54%2.44%1.77%

4.72%2.19%

18.48%2.01%

13.83%0.99%1.79%

16.94%42.26%

2.10%2.87%0.92%4.10%3.41%2.95%4.58%3.15%1.69%2.27%1.13%9.29%1.75%1.54%2.44%1.77%

1.93%0.42%2.63%0.89%

-3.88%0.58%0.44%

-3.46%7.23%1.95%1.01%0.53%

-0.61%0.44%

-0.48%-0.52%1.31%

-0.09%-3.91%0.33%

-1.54%-0.01%-2.49%0.32%

-1.08%

1.93%0.42%2.63%0.89%

-3.88%0.58%0.44%

-3.46%7.23%1.95%1.01%0.53%

-0.61%0.44%

-0.48%-0.52%1.31%

-0.09%-3.91%0.33%

-1.54%-0.01%-2.49%0.32%

-1.08% Source: UNCTAD Trade Data. Author’s analysis. Italics indicate absence of revealed comparative advantage (RCA < 1)

Top Thai Export SubclustersBy 2000 Export Value

$6,537,304$5,560,312$2,091,233$1,939,309$1,865,019$1,828,971$1,715,254$1,667,088$1,510,591$1,407,223$1,405,768$1,351,823$1,092,099$1,076,150$1,051,094

$901,301$880,026$845,054$832,950$702,792$640,107$604,336$580,004$545,534$524,256

$6,537,304$5,560,312$2,091,233$1,939,309$1,865,019$1,828,971$1,715,254$1,667,088$1,510,591$1,407,223$1,405,768$1,351,823$1,092,099$1,076,150$1,051,094

$901,301$880,026$845,054$832,950$702,792$640,107$604,336$580,004$545,534$524,256

Back-UpBack-Up


Top Thai Export SubclustersBy 2000 World Market Share

SubclusterSubcluster ClusterCluster World Market Share

World Market Share



Value(in $1,000)

Value(in $1,000)

Natural RubberVegetables, PreparedFish, ProcessedRice, Cereals, PreparedMolassesShell FishSulphur, Iron PyriteFruit,Preserved,PreparedLeather ProductsRice, CerealsSugarNon-Textile ClothingVegetables, ProcessedClock,Watch PartsMen's Under GarmentsWall FurnishingsDecorative ProductsHair CareRope,CordageMeats, ProcessedSound Equipment PartsSynthetic Fiber, WasteOffice Machine PartsBase Metal Articles,EquipJewellery,Coins

Natural RubberVegetables, PreparedFish, ProcessedRice, Cereals, PreparedMolassesShell FishSulphur, Iron PyriteFruit,Preserved,PreparedLeather ProductsRice, CerealsSugarNon-Textile ClothingVegetables, ProcessedClock,Watch PartsMen's Under GarmentsWall FurnishingsDecorative ProductsHair CareRope,CordageMeats, ProcessedSound Equipment PartsSynthetic Fiber, WasteOffice Machine PartsBase Metal Articles,EquipJewellery,Coins

Materials/MetalsFood/BeveragesFood/BeveragesFood/BeveragesFood/BeveragesFood/BeveragesMaterials/MetalsFood/BeveragesTextiles/ApparelFood/BeveragesFood/BeveragesTextiles/ApparelFood/BeveragesPersonalTextiles/ApparelHousing/HouseholdHousing/HouseholdPersonalTextiles/ApparelFood/BeveragesEntertainment/LeisureTextiles/ApparelOfficeHousing/HouseholdPersonal

Materials/MetalsFood/BeveragesFood/BeveragesFood/BeveragesFood/BeveragesFood/BeveragesMaterials/MetalsFood/BeveragesTextiles/ApparelFood/BeveragesFood/BeveragesTextiles/ApparelFood/BeveragesPersonalTextiles/ApparelHousing/HouseholdHousing/HouseholdPersonalTextiles/ApparelFood/BeveragesEntertainment/LeisureTextiles/ApparelOfficeHousing/HouseholdPersonal

42.26%21.64%18.48%16.94%15.94%13.83%13.18%12.24%12.19%

9.50%9.29%7.95%7.87%7.73%7.16%6.45%6.02%5.23%4.92%4.87%4.81%4.76%4.72%4.68%4.58%

42.26%21.64%18.48%16.94%15.94%13.83%13.18%12.24%12.19%

9.50%9.29%7.95%7.87%7.73%7.16%6.45%6.02%5.23%4.92%4.87%4.81%4.76%4.72%4.68%4.58%

7.23%-9.42%2.63%

-3.46%1.07%

-3.88%12.83%-1.63%-3.01%-0.36%-1.54%-4.34%-5.20%-2.15%-0.95%1.28%

-4.20%-3.59%-0.57%2.97%

-0.20%2.12%1.93%1.78%

-0.52%

7.23%-9.42%2.63%

-3.46%1.07%

-3.88%12.83%-1.63%-3.01%-0.36%-1.54%-4.34%-5.20%-2.15%-0.95%1.28%

-4.20%-3.59%-0.57%2.97%

-0.20%2.12%1.93%1.78%

-0.52%

$1,510,591$4,044

$2,091,233$1,667,088

$38,723$1,865,019

$194,972$322,397$182,287

$83,258$640,107$388,094

$23,689$140,683$239,699$105,129

$45,740$84,507$63,908

$349,391$484,497$188,811

$6,537,304$222,328$901,301

$1,510,591$4,044

$2,091,233$1,667,088

$38,723$1,865,019

$194,972$322,397$182,287

$83,258$640,107$388,094

$23,689$140,683$239,699$105,129

$45,740$84,507$63,908

$349,391$484,497$188,811

$6,537,304$222,328$901,301

Source: UNCTAD Trade Data. Author’s analysis.

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Mar

ket I

ncen

tives

Cluste

rs

Deman

d Con

ditio

ns

Vitality

of C

ompe

tition

Physic

al In

frastr

uctu

re

Admini

strat

ive R

ules

and

Pro

cedu

res

Capita

l Mar

kets

Human

Res

sour

ces

Scienc

e an

d Tec

hnolo

gy

National Business Environment OverviewThailand’s Relative Strengths and Weaknesses

30

20

35

25

45

Source:Global Competitiveness Report 2002

Factor Conditions Context for Firm Strategy and Rivalry Demand Conditions Related and Supporting Industries

Rank

Overall rank: 35

BETTER WORSE

• Thailand’s weak factor conditions in the face of solid market incentives lure companies to compete on low input costs

40

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Public Spending on EducationSelected Asian Countries

*No growth rate data availableSource: UN – Human Development Indicators

0%

1%

2%

3%

4%

5%

6%

-2.5% -2.0% -1.5% -1.0% -0.5% 0.0% 0.5% 1.0% 1.5% 2.0%

Public expenditure on education, Share of

GNP, 1995-97

Change of public education spending as % of GNP, 1995-97 to 1985-87

Malaysia

PhilippinesS Korea

Thailand

Laos

Indonesia

China

Singapore Hong KongVietnam*India

Cambodia*

Myanmar

Sri LankaJapan*

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• About 10% of the leading Asian universities included in a recent study are located in Thailand

• Thai universities tend to rank in the bottom half or even bottom quartile of the performance distribution

• The exception are MBA-programs, where Thailand hosts two programs ranked in the top half of the top 50 universities analyzed

0

1

2

3

4

To

p 2

5%

2n

dQ

ua

rtia

l

3rd

Qu

art

ial

Bo

ttom

25

%

Multi-Discipline

Science &Technology

Business(MBA)

Quality of Thai UniversitiesAsian Comparison

Source: Asiaweek, 2000

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Factor(Input)

Conditions

Factor(Input)

Conditions

Telephone/Fax Infrastructure Quality 28

Overall Infrastructure Quality29

Air Transport Infrastructure Quality 32







Railroad Infrastructure Quality 39

Port Infrastructure Quality 35

Physical InfrastructureThailand’s Relative Position


• Thailand has a relatively strong communications and domestic transportation infrastructure thanks to heavy investments in the run-up to the Asian crisis

– Thailand has made significant use of public-private partnerships in the development of its infrastructure

• Problem areas are

– Low quality railroad system

– Regional disparities between a well developed, but congested infrastructure in Bangkok and less developed infrastructure elsewhere

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Availability and Use

• Thailand has fewer phone lines and mobile phones than comparable countries, such as Malaysia

• Prices for phone calls, fixed and mobile, in Thailand are more expensive than in other countries

• Thailand scores low on many of the indicators measuring Internet-intensity of the economy

Communication Infrastructure

Source: Sasin Project, WEF IT Competitiveness Report

DistancesDistances ThailandThailand

<50<50 33

50-10050-100 66

100-150100-150

150-200150-200

200-350200-350

350-500350-500

>500>500

99

99

1212

1515

1818

MalaysiaMalaysia

1.351.35

3.393.39

6.676.67

PhilippinesPhilippines

2.592.59

Price Levels for Domestic Phone Calls

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Factor(Input)

Conditions

Factor(Input)

Conditions

Local Equity Market Access 21







Ease of Access to Loans 46

Venture Capital Availability 42

Financial Market Sophistication 36

Financial MarketsThailand’s Relative Position

Note: Rank by countries; overall Thailand ranks 35 out of 80 countries (35 on National Business Environment, 53 on GDP pc 2001)Source: Global Competitiveness Report 2002, McKinsey 2002, Sasin Study 2003

• Thailand’s financial system is overcoming the fall-out of the Asian Crisis but remains effected by inefficient government regulation

– The non performing loans-problem is getting under control

• Thai equity markets are small, and listed companies tend to have low market capitalization

• Thai companies report difficulties in getting access to loans, and are facing a retail banking system with low efficiency

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Corruption RankingSelected Asian Countries

Rank 2002

4.

14.

27.

36.

42.

57.

61.

65.

75.

88.

Country

Singapore

Hong Kong

Taiwan

Malaysia

South Korea

China

Thailand

Philippines

Vietnam

Indonesia

Change in Rank since 1998

+3

+2

+2

-5

+4

-1

+4

-4

+7

+1

Note: Rank out of 91 countries, change in rank calculated for constant sample of countriesSource: Transparency International, author’s calculations, Corruption in Thailand Report - OfficeofCivilServiceCommi ssi on, 2 0 0 1

• In Thailand, corruption is most prevalent in the Custom Authority followed by Government Procurement and the Tax Agency/Inspectors

• Thai business would be willing to pay 12.5% more tax if that would eliminate corruption

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Export Destinations for Thai Products

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

ASEAN

USA

EU

Japan

Hong Kong China Middle East

Eastern EuropeOthers

Source: Economic and financial statistics, April 2002, Bank of Thailand

Share of Thai Export by Destination

• Thai companies export predominantly to advanced markets in the United States, Europe, and Japan

• Growing markets are China and the ASEAN countries, which have again reached their 1995 pre-Asian Crisis relative level

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Top 20 Thai-Based Companies Asiaweek 1000, 2000

Sales ProfitProfit as

%$ Millions $ Millions of sales

1 Petroleum Authority Oil refining, 6,006 149 2.52 Elec. Generating Auth. Power generation 3,550 -641 —3 Siam Cement Cement 2,935 -124 —4 Thai Airways Air transport 2,845 140 4.95 Seagate Technology Semiconductors 1,596 21 1.36 Charoen Pokphand Animal Feed 1,428 109 7.77 Esso Standard Thailand Oil refining, 1,388 -156 —8 Toyota Motor (Thailand) Car assembly, sales 1,331 -39 —9 Shell Company Of Oil refining, 1,301 10 0.8

10 Telephone Organization Telecommunications 1,252 51 4.111 Mmc Sittipol Car assembly, sales 1,039 3 0.312 Bangchak Petroleum Oil products 1,025 -46 —13 Thai Oil Oil refining 929 -500 —14 Siam Makro Public Co. Cash and carry 912 19 2.115 Caltex Oil (Thailand) Oil refining, 837 -42 —16 Coms. Auth. Of Telecommunications 796 98 12.317 Tri Petch Isuzu Sales Car dealership 674 -53 —18 Boonrawd Trading Beer & soft drink 569 2 0.419 Honda Cars Mfg. Car assembly, car 536 21 420 Honda Cars Car dealership 502 6 1.1

Company Main Business

• The list of top Thai companies is dominated by government-owned companies, subsidiaries of foreign companies, and a few Thai conglomerates

Source: Asiaweek

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Comparative Company PerformanceNon-Japanese Companies in Asia 1000, 2000

• Thailand hosts 3.3% of Asia’s companies outside of Japan that are part of the Asian 1000, roughly proportional to its share of of GDP in the region

• Thai companies tend to have lower sales, a smaller sales/employee ratio, and lower profits as % of sales than other Asian companies

Source: Asiaweek, author’s calculations

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

China

South Korea

Indonesia

India

Australia

Hong Kong

Malaysia

Singapore

New Zealand

Taiwan

Thailand

Philippines

Pakistan

Singapore

South Korea

Pakistan

Philippines

Taiwan

New Zealand

Malaysia

Australia

India

Indonesia

Thailand

Hong Kong

China

Pakistan

India

Australia

South Korea

Singapore

Indonesia

Taiwan

Thailand

New Zealand

Malaysia

China

Hong Kong

Philippines

Philippines

Singapore

South Korea

Malaysia

Taiwan

New Zealand

Hong Kong

Thailand

Australia

Indonesia

India

Pakistan

China

Average Sales Sales/Employee Sales/Assets Assets/Employee

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Groups of Neighboring Nations, e.g. Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, …

Groups of Neighboring Nations, e.g. Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, …

Broad Economic Areas, e.g. ASEAN

Broad Economic Areas, e.g. ASEAN

Proximity increases the potential pay-off to coordinated actions to enhance the microeconomic business environment

Proximity enables meaningful specialization of clusters along the value chain while stimulating competition between national clusters

Proximity enables countries to jointly market the attractiveness of the region to the outside world

Each country can significantly enhance productivity

Stronger regional institutions and governance mechanisms are required to attain these benefits

Cooperation within broad regions can improve the microeconomic business environment mainly by removing barriers and impediments to trade, investment, and exchange of technology and skills

A more efficient and more level playing field enhances trade and investment in the economic area

Levels of Regional Economic Cooperation Back-UpBack-Up


Defining Thailand’s Role in the World EconomyThoughts Towards A Vision…

• Stable, industrious, open for the world; Thailand, the gateway to South-East Asia

– More stable macroeconomic, political, and social context than China, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, and Indonesia

– Larger domestic market than Singapore and Hong Kong; preferential access to a larger regional market than Korea

– More transparent and open to competition than Malaysia, Indonesia, and China

– Higher levels of education, infrastructure quality, institutional base, and technological proficiency than China, Vietnam, Myanmar, and Laos

– Broader array of manufacturing clusters, many not considered ”high tech”, than Taiwan and Singapore

– Personal consumer services (tourism, health care provision) versus business services in Hong Kong and Singapore

• Thailand – the Ireland of Asia?

Documents

Thailand’s competitiveness michael e porter